One point from the first two games is a less-than-ideal start to the new campaign for Tottenham, who have significant ambitions this season after a summer of rebuilding under Mauricio Pochettino.

The North London outfit finished fifth last season and now have the ultimate goal of making inroads back into the Premier League’s top four and qualifying for next term’s Champions League.

There were positives in the 1-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford, while the first half of the team’s 2-2 draw against Stoke City was dominant. However, it has felt like the same old Spurs to some degree in both games. Against United, despite dominating possession and territory, the White Hart Lane outfit lost a silly goal against the run of play, which proved to be decisive.

A two-goal lead against the Potters wasn’t enough to give the team three points, with a disappointing capitulation in the second half resulting in a draw, with Stoke looking the more likely to get the win.

Most of the North London faithful will not have taken too many positives from the first two games of the season, but one of the major plus points should be the early season performances of Eric Dier. A versatile defender, the former Sporting Lisbon man’s future at the North London club was looking up in the air following the summer signing of Toby Alderweireld - with the Belgian partnered with former Ajax team-mate and compatriot Jan Vertonghen.

However, Pochettino used Dier in midfield during pre-season and has deployed the England under-21 star in the boiler room against United and Stoke. In both games, partnered with Nabil Bentaleb in the first fixture and Ryan Mason in the second, Dier was the standout in the position and outplayed the natural midfielders.

The strong youngster’s work-rate has been admirable, while his combative nature from playing as a defender has allowed him to him win his fair share of duels and headers. The most positive things about Dier’s showings have, ironically, been his positional play and ability on the ball - which could be excused by most due to his limited amount of time playing as a midfielder.

It was Bentaleb that gave away the ball for United’s goal, while Dier, not Mason, was the man to supply the team’s attacking stars against Stoke.

Last season youth academy graduates Bentaleb and Mason were Pochettino’s first choice in the heart of the side, with the promising duo looking like a pairing to grow together and drive the team forward.

This now looks unlikely to be the Argentine coach’s preference, as Dier has looked like a natural in his new role and has contributed both defensively and in the opposition half.

With the likes of Paulinho, Etienne Capoue, Benjamin Stambouli and Lewis Holtby all having left the North London club this summer, Spurs were looking light in options in central midfield.

Dier, however, has been as good as a new signing, with the young English star all-of-a-sudden a player that appears to have a starting berth in the team nailed down.

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